Empirical Charlene McGee
Empirical Charlene McGee is a smoked-juniper spirit from Empirical, the Copenhagen flavor company founded by Noma alumni — Danish juniper berries smoked with their own wood, distilled at low temperature, and rested in Oloroso sherry casks. Bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in a 750mL bottle and named for the pyrokinetic heroine of Stephen King's Firestarter, it is equal parts Scotch, gin, and campfire. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Ingredients: Danish juniper berries (smoked with juniper wood), juniper wood, pilsner malt, Belgian saison yeast — all natural, no added sugar
- Process: berries lightly crushed and macerated, gently distilled at low temperatures, then matured in Oloroso sherry casks
- Origin: Empirical Spirits, Copenhagen, Denmark — founded by Lars Williams and Mark Emil Hermansen (ex-Noma); one of the company's original spirits
- Profile: smoky, savory, resinous — "like a time capsule" of Empirical's early DIY distilling days
Scotch Meets Gin at a Campfire
Empirical doesn't make spirits by category — it cooks them like a kitchen, chasing flavor the way a chef chases a dish. Charlene McGee is the purest expression of that idea: juniper berries smoked over their own wood in the Scandinavian tradition, distilled gently to keep the botanical's fruity integrity, then given a short Oloroso rest for a cozy, woody sweetness. The result defies the shelf it sits on — which is exactly the point.
Tasting Notes
Smoky, savory, and resinous on the nose — campfire nostalgia with fresh juniper underneath. The palate brings fresh juniper, fruity blackberries, and resinous juniper sap, the Oloroso cask adding a faint sweet woodiness. The finish is smooth and smoky, like the last embers of a good fire.
How to Enjoy
Neat over ice is the distillery's first suggestion — let the smoke speak. It also takes beautifully to ginger ale or cream soda, where the savory-sweet interplay turns playful. For the adventurous gin drinker or the peated-whiskey lover, this is the bottle that bridges both worlds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Charlene McGee a gin?
Not exactly — it is a juniper-based spirit, but Empirical builds it around smoke rather than classic gin botanicals. Think of it as its own category.
Why is it called Charlene McGee?
After Charlie McGee, the pyrokinetic child protagonist of Stephen King's novel Firestarter — a nod to the spirit's fiery, smoky character.
What does Oloroso cask aging add?
A faintly sweet, cozy woodiness that rounds the smoke without taming it.
Order Empirical Charlene McGee online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA — Copenhagen's smokiest idea, bottled.